Mammoth daycare provider arrested

October 6, 2010

A longtime Mammoth Lakes daycare provider was arrested the evening of Oct. 5 on suspicion of sexual abuse against two children, now adults, who were once in his care, according to local law enforcement officials.

Guadalupe â€śLupeâ€ť Almaguer, 56, was arrested on the evening of Oct. 5 for crimes of sexual abuse against minors, according to Mono County District Attorney Chief Investigator Wade McCammond.

Almaguer was booked on five counts of Penal Code 288, or â€śLewd and Lascivious Acts with a Child under 14.â€ť

He is in the Mono County Jail with a bail of $500,000. He was expected to be arraigned on Oct. 7 in Mono County Superior Court, although that could change, according to McCammond.

It is unclear whether Almaguer is a licensed daycare provider, according to McCammond, who said the issue is still being investigated. But Almaguer has been providing daycare in Mammoth for many years.

The case is still very much under investigation, McCammond said.

It is possible the District Attorneyâ€™s office may have an update on the case sometime next week, he said.

Mammoth Lakes Police Chief Dan Watson said he could not comment on the case and referred all questions to McCammond.

â€śThe Mammoth Lakes Police Department and the Mono County District Attorneyâ€™s Office are still in the process of completing our investigation and we will not discuss publicly at this time any results or conclusions derived from our efforts,â€ť according to a press release sent out by both agencies on Oct. 6.

â€śMr. Almaguer, the public and concerned parents deserve a comprehensive investigation focused on finding the truth and achieving justice.,â€ť the press release states.

â€śIf you are a concerned parent who has, or has had, a child or children stay at Mr. Almaguerâ€™s daycare facility, we strongly ask that you DO NOT question or interview your child or children regarding anything involving their time at Mr. Almaguerâ€™s daycare facility."